Sep 12, 2024
Learning. Innovation. Community. Those are the key words cloud-based CRM software company Salesforce uses to describe its annual flagship conference, Dreamforce, touted as the world’s largest AI event and enterprise tech conference. Hosted every year in San Francisco and set for Sept. 17-19 at Moscone Center, Dreamforce is considered an essential business gathering for the global Salesforce community, aka “Trailblazers,” that attracts thousands of attendees worldwide for three days of learning, networking, innovation sharing, philanthropy, and fun.
In 2023, the 21st annual event drew an… more
Sep 10, 2024
At this year’s Connect Marketplace in Milwaukee, it wasn’t just the deal-making and networking that had the 3,000 attendees buzzing. The 2024 iteration of Connect’s largest event upped the game when it came to experiential moments—and they might’ve even stolen the whole show (hey, Lil Jon!).
In late August, event planners and suppliers spent three days exploring a lively trade show floor, participating in one-on-one appointments, sitting in on valuable education, and enjoying after-hours fun in Brew City. And each of those cornerstones came with its own creative, innovative experiences,… more
Sep 09, 2024
In general, attendees go to conferences based on content, potential contacts, and convenience, not the attributes of the host convention center. However, the conference experience, which is strongly influenced by the venue, can be an important factor in an attendee’s decision to return to that event in the future.
So, what do attendees want and expect in a conference experience?
Convention center management company ASM Global recently explored that question, specifically looking at preferences of Millennial and Gen Z attendees. The growing under-40 audience, ASM says, represents 42… more
Sep 06, 2024
Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2024, Ace Hardware Corp. hosted its largest Fall Convention in history, attracting more than 18,000 retailers, employees, and vendors to McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, according to Ace. Held Aug. 8-10—just prior to the Democratic National Convention—the Ace Hardware Fall 2024 Convention not only set records in total attendance but also in total representation from retailers and stores.
As the company turns 100, Ace continues to grow—not shrink—the number of retail locations. "During the quarter, we added our 5,000th store and are on… more
Aug 30, 2024
From LED dance floors and AI Ping Pong to branded bar carts and immersive floral walls, event activations are a powerful way to engage attendees and create memorable experiences that are also Instagram-worthy.
At the recent corporate event hosted by Shepard Expositions, SandboxLIVE attracted 150 industry partners, speakers, customers, and prospective customers. Established in 1905 in Atlanta, the employee-owned trade show contracting company brought these activations and more to life July 15-17 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in midtown Atlanta.
Taylor Elliot, Shepard“It's all about getting… more
Aug 23, 2024
Corporate event planners are constantly challenged with going above and beyond their last event, especially when it comes to creating more immersive environments designed to deepen attendee engagement and foster brand recognition. In this never-ending quest to generate a more profound “wow” factor at face-to-face events, planners can look to their staging and production partners to create innovative experiential activations and environments via the latest technology.
To get the inside scoop on what’s trending in creative technical production innovations for events, we consulted Ariane… more
Aug 13, 2024
We're just two weeks out from Connect Marketplace—a corporate conference where attendees can get a week's worth of business done in two days while dancing to Lil Jon or crushing it on the trade show pickleball court. Yep, this isn't your average conference.
At Connect, attendees can expect a B2B event that, above all, values one-on-one appointments and purposeful education—but planners and partners who take time out of their schedule to attend deserve an experience too. That's where lively networking events and other perks come in.
Wondering what's on the docket for Connect Marketplace 2024… more
Aug 12, 2024
Workday Rising 2024, an annual corporate event produced by human capital management software company Workday with $7.3 billion in revenues in fiscal 2024, will culminate in the annual Customer Appreciation Party at Allegiant Stadium, featuring a live performance by rock star Gwen Stefani.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our rock star customers than with a REAL rock star performance,” said Workday's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Emma Chalwin in a blog.
Scheduled for Sept. 16–19 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, this year’s conference is set to bring together… more
Aug 08, 2024
In the wake of the devastating wildfires that leveled the city of Lahaina, Maui, on Aug. 8, 2023, there has been a growing curiosity about the island's recovery and readiness to welcome back group business one year later.
At the DMC Network Exchange on Aug. 1, we had the opportunity to sit down with Josh DeSilva, president of DeSilva Meeting Consultants, to get an update on the current situation in Maui, how the recovery process is unfolding, and what organizers can expect when planning their events.
Here are highlights from our conversation. Watch the full interview here.
Backstory:… more
Aug 07, 2024
On July 30, event-furniture rental giant CORT Events invited 200 industry leaders and tastemakers to a five-hour, garden-themed open house event on the 9th floor of New York City’s iconic Rockefeller Plaza. The to-do drew inspiration from the venue’s adjacent alfresco event space—where a foliage-filled oasis was a reprieve from the traffic below—and boasted setups throughout of different seating, table-and-chair, and decor arrangements for guests to both ogle over and mingle in.
Here are the five noteworthy trends that CORT chose to display, plus insights the company’s executive director of… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.
At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident more